In the early 1970s, Jackie Kennedy Onassis split her time between two completely different worlds. Part of the year, she lived on Skorpios, the private Greek island owned by her husband, shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. She swam in the Mediterranean, hosted guests, and sailed on his massive yacht, the Christina. The rest of the time, she was back in her Manhattan apartment, navigating the streets of New York City like any other resident — except she was anything but ordinary.
On those New York streets, Jackie quietly built one of the most recognizable personal styles in fashion history. Gone were the stiff, tailored suits of her White House years. In their place came a relaxed but deliberate uniform: oversized black sunglasses, black turtlenecks, white jeans, and belted trench coats. On windy days, she wrapped silk Hermès scarves around her head. Every piece served a purpose — shielding her from camera flashes while keeping her completely composed.
Her large sunglasses were more than a fashion statement. They let her observe the world around her without anyone seeing where her eyes were focused. Paired with neutral, understated clothing, the look became her armor against constant public scrutiny. She wore it shopping, walking through the park, and running everyday errands.
That scrutiny was intense. Paparazzo Ron Galella stalked her relentlessly — following her to restaurants, hiding behind bushes, and chasing her children to school. In one incident, he jumped in front of her while she was riding a bicycle in Central Park. Jackie took him to federal court in 1972. The judge ordered Galella to stay at least 25 feet from her and 30 feet from her children at all times.
Aristotle Onassis died in Paris in March 1975, leaving Jackie a widow for the second time at just 45 years old. His daughter, Christina Onassis, resented Jackie and fought to limit her inheritance. After months of legal negotiations, Christina agreed to a $26 million settlement. With her finances secured, Jackie returned to New York permanently.
Rather than stepping back from public life, Jackie launched a career. She joined Viking Press in 1975 as a consulting editor, driving herself to the office and sitting on the floor to sort through photo layouts. She used her connections to acquire books on history, Russian culture, and fashion. When Viking published a novel that insulted the Kennedy family, she resigned on the spot and moved to Doubleday, where she worked as a respected editor for the rest of her life.
Through all of it — widowhood, legal battles, and a brand-new career — her style never wavered. She showed up to galas, galleries, and ferry rides with the same quiet confidence and the same sharp eye for what worked.
